Sonja Lee McLanahan, 65, of Archie, Missouri, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, October 18, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, https://American Cancer Society/. 

Sonja was born on November 20, 1960, to James P. Willoughby and Freda (Anderson) Willoughby in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. On February 14, 1982, Sonja married the love of her life, Michael McLanahan. They shared 44 years of marriage, building a life centered around family and love. 

Sonja spent her life helping others through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare. She later retired from Cass Regional Medical Center, where she worked as an Emergency Room admitting clerk.

She loved her family and friends and cherished spending days with her mom. Together, they loved watching game shows, Hallmark movies, and the Chiefs play football. Sonja was loved by many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. 

Sonja is preceded in death by her father, James P. Willoughby; her brother, Paul "Butch" Willoughby; her granddaughter, Evalynn Thiele; and her grandparents, aunts, and uncles. She is survived by her husband, Michael McLanahan; her mother, Freda Willoughby; her brother, James Willoughby; her daughters: Tousha Dillon (Chris) and Trisha Thiele (Louis); her son, Travis McLanahan (Kayla); her grandchildren: Zane (Shelby), Emma, Dakota (Brittany), Mason, Kolten, Lyle, Adalee, Aiden, Keagen, and Gracie; and her two great-grandchildren, Axel and Creed. She also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends who will cherish her memory.